Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-04-08
are more beautiful than those one real

II am sorry ! can't offer YOU any tea,n she
continued almost In the same breath. 1--WE
have only one teapot, and my husband keeps
his cigars in It."
"Would II be ndiscreet to ask" said
"what work Mr.. Mort il at present engaged
oni | am anxlously looking forward for il.
can not tell you with what pleasure read his
last bookn
"IIe is writing series Of Letters from
Heaven" she answered. They are master
pieces"
She was about to add something when my
husband rose. He was evidently afraid that
sometime blasphemous was about TO follow.
"Well," he said, as he took his leave, 81
don't read novels as rule, but shall make
point of getting that one from Nudes. 1t is
subject full OF interest 10 me as a clergyman.
Good-day, Mrs Mort"
"What "a relief TO be out OF that houseW l
said, as we stepped into the road. "Do you
think the woman is mad.n
Mad, certainly not; but very eccentric. l
wonder what the husband is like.
"If he is only visible between 10 at night
and in the morning" I answered, 1--WE are
not very likely to ever know. We can't call on
him during those hours"
Mrs. Mort never returned our call, nor did
she ever appear at our church, and, what was
stranger, neither she nor her husband was
ever seen to leave Sea View villa or TO take a
walk in the village. The door OF their house
was always closed. The tradesmen were
spoken to through a spy-holc Our grocer
told me that he had been ordered 10 leave the
basket on the doorstep whenever he came, and
10 return next day for fresh orders and pay
ment. He always found his empty basket
waiting for him where he had left II, and by
its side an envelope containing his money and
a list of the things he was 10 bring the next
time he called. Similar instructions had been
given TO the other tradesmen. The tax
gatherer, BY an arrangement made with Mr..
Dale by Mrs. Mort on signing the lease, was
paid by the sqnirc's steward
This extraordinary conduct intrigued us
greatly, AMI was the subject ~ ntermnable
conversation between on rselyes and the Dales
whenever We met Tn csc, by the way, had
met with a reception similar TO ours on calling
AT Sen View. Their call had never been re
turned. am ashamed to saw that W" made
some very unfah suppos'soas about the
strange lady aud her mysterious husband.
This was no doubt. because we were all dis
appointed in on r hopes of having a pleasant
forgot to make allowances for people whose
profession cxacted privacy and retirement, nor
did we remember that the Morris, having lived
for many years on the continent were most
probably quite unaware Of the usages OF Eng
lish society. Mr. Dale seemed very annoyed
at the conduct Of his new tenants, and openly
regretted having let them the house. Wis
maiden sister spoke OF Mrs. VI ort as an "irrc-
1f,r Oh, y NTr5 nal
flied her opinion of the lady whom, when sign
ing a nine yeart lease of her house, she had
found charming, though peculiar"
Our bad example was naturally foil wed by
the villagers, but unfortunately these did not
cOnine themselves % verbal spcculations I'm
able To satisfy their curiosity by variety Of
spying round the premises OF the villa, they
revenscd themselves by declaring war a-ai INST
its invisible Inhabitants. OF an evening groups
would form outside it, gates and cries, in
sulting or mirtA provoking, would be uttered
This soon became regu lar habit They call
ed it drawing the badger" On one occasion
one young man went 50 far a 10 throw dead
cat up against one Of the win lows on the first
floor. II broke the pane aud f,ll thrOug h into
the room, amid the shouts cf those present.
suddenly the window was pulled open and
Mrs. Mort appeared. She looi, cd very angry.
"Hurrah. hurrah'' screamed the yollels.
"Ne've drawn one badger. NOV FIR t'other -
Bat the lau shtcr occasionel nv THIS salt,
was soon checked when It appeared that Mrs.
Mort was commencing reprisll'. The deaf
cat was first hurled back. and this was follow
ca by brisk fire Of various books, flung with
unerring aim by the incen.ed lady. These
volumes, which were all from various editions
Of Shakspeares works. gave the yoltcls some
smart raps about the ears. II is doubtful how
far this scandal might not have gone had not
my husband happened TO come up at that
moment lie Wa. indignant when he heard
what had occurred, and sharply rebuked his
parshion'r', many IL whom had their hands
full OF mud and stones which they had just
picked up 10 carry on the siege. Indeed SO
strongly dil he express hi, dlspeasure at
such mOestation Of harmless aud unoiTending
people that from That day forth the nightly
scenes outside Sea View villa ceased.
After this the general curiosity, for want OF
ahment, appeased itself and gradually we
ceased TO occupy ourselves about either Mrs
Mort or her husband
few weeks later cousin OF mine came to
spend part OF the oxford vacation with us
We naturally told him about the affair, which
greatly interested him
He vowed that he would draw that badger
the same evening.
what lark !" he cried. II never thought
when came down here that | should find
such aud adventure waiting for me. Old
Mort. too! | am a great admirer Of his, but
didn't think he was a crank From his books
one would think him very jolly, jovial sort of
"A fellow
Both my husband and | endeavored TO per
suade him to leave these people alone, but to
no purpose. Charlie had made up his mind.
and, having maturcd his plan Of attack, sailed
forth at IL o'clock in the evening, and made
his way 10 Sea View villa.
We awaited his return with considerable
anxiety. There was 50 much IN stery attaching
10 the hOuse aud Mrs Mort was so eccentric IN
her behavior, that we really felt afraid lest
evil should bcfall him 1t wss therefore no
small relief to Us t. hear him ring at the door
about an hour later. rushed out to meet
him, and was delighted TO see hun safe and
sound, though looking rather pale.